Source: CNA
TAIWAN: Taiwan is threatening to freeze its intake of Filipino workers, after the Philippines refused to apologise for sending 14 Taiwanese fraud suspects to mainland China.
The move could cost the Philippines more than US$300 million a year in remittances sent home by Filipinos working overseas.
The move has come under fire from the island's civil rights groups, calling it a violation of human rights; warning that the labour freeze can be a double-edge sword that cuts both ways.
"Because Filipino workers are better educated and many can communicate in English, so they are in high demand among Taiwan's technology companies. But now they won't be able to find Filipino workers", said Chen Hsiu Lien, secretary general of Taiwan International Workers' Association.
Currently, there are 78,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan.
Major employers include Taiwan's biggest science park, which may suffer a shortage of labour as a result.
Tens of thousands of Taiwanese families who rely on Filipino caretakers will also suffer.
As the island's demand for foreign labour continue to grow, analysts say Taiwan should refrain from using such moves as leverage to settle diplomatic rows.
"If you don't import foreign labour, it doesn't mean local companies will stay and hire local workers. They'll move out of the island and this will leave many Taiwanese out of work", said Hsia Hsiao Chuan, social studies professor at Shih Hsin University.
Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos is currently visiting Taiwan in a personal capacity. He suggests the Philippine government fire its officials responsible in replace of a formal apology.
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TAIWAN: Taiwan is threatening to freeze its intake of Filipino workers, after the Philippines refused to apologise for sending 14 Taiwanese fraud suspects to mainland China.
The move could cost the Philippines more than US$300 million a year in remittances sent home by Filipinos working overseas.
The move has come under fire from the island's civil rights groups, calling it a violation of human rights; warning that the labour freeze can be a double-edge sword that cuts both ways.
"Because Filipino workers are better educated and many can communicate in English, so they are in high demand among Taiwan's technology companies. But now they won't be able to find Filipino workers", said Chen Hsiu Lien, secretary general of Taiwan International Workers' Association.
Currently, there are 78,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan.
Major employers include Taiwan's biggest science park, which may suffer a shortage of labour as a result.
Tens of thousands of Taiwanese families who rely on Filipino caretakers will also suffer.
As the island's demand for foreign labour continue to grow, analysts say Taiwan should refrain from using such moves as leverage to settle diplomatic rows.
"If you don't import foreign labour, it doesn't mean local companies will stay and hire local workers. They'll move out of the island and this will leave many Taiwanese out of work", said Hsia Hsiao Chuan, social studies professor at Shih Hsin University.
Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos is currently visiting Taiwan in a personal capacity. He suggests the Philippine government fire its officials responsible in replace of a formal apology.
